Calls for Argentine tourists to be banned from Falkland Islands after 'waving flags and rejecting British sovereignty'

However, local residents have reported a sharp increase in such incidents over recent weeks as international attention on the territory has only ramped up.

Now, Michael Goss, the member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly for Camp, has addressed their concerns head on.

He told The Express: "In the community, who have been quite vocal about the fact of wanting to prevent Argentinian visitors coming into the islands.

"Whilst I am not opposed to that, we have to be realistic of what falls in the legalities of the lay of the land and the law, so we can’t turn around and directly stop people coming in at this moment in time.”

He went on to confirm the Assembly on the British territory would "look into options".

Mr Goss added: "We have been looking at the early points of this assembly of ways and means that we could actually look to potentially put a stop to things like this, but ultimately, again, it falls down into what we can do legally.

"But it also comes down to administration."

Diplomatic showdowns between Westminster and Buenos Aires show no signs of slowing down after the British Government accused Argentina of “wholly unacceptable” obstruction and harassment.

The most recent flare up came after Argentina’s President Javier Milei declared his country’s claim to the South Atlantic archipelago was "a national cause”.

Mr Milei also dismissed the wishes of islanders, who previously voted overwhelmingly to remain as a British Overseas Territory.

He argued the principle of self-determination did not apply "since the population was implanted by the occupying power on a territory whose sovereignty is in dispute".

Reacting to the most recent posturing from Buenos Aires, Mr Goss added: “We’re hearing a lot of noise coming from Argentina.

"We’ve seen sparks of this in the UN when myself and Dom were away and ultimately we knew then that there was going to be a lot more noise coming out."

Directly addressing the sabre rattling from Mr Milei, he said: "We’re not shaken by it, we’ve grown. We are strong, and we are going to continue to grow and we are going to grow stronger from this, not weaker.

"So, my ultimate closing statement on this is: it’s just noise, and we’re not going to let it get to us."

Argentina has long claimed ownership of the Falkland Islands, known as the Islas Malvinas

REUTERS

Under the agreement made between Britain and Buenos Aires after the 1982 war, Argentine visitors can enter with a valid passport, proof of onward travel, accommodation and funds.

While no legal ban on Argentine flags exists, public-order laws apply if behaviour turns disruptive.

In the war of 1982, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel and the Falkland Islanders were killed.

Earlier this month, the Argentinian government imposed sanctions on people and firms involved in oil exploration around the Falklands and said it would file a criminal complaint against oil company Navitas Petroleum over its operations around the islands.

Mr Milei told the UN General Assembly in New York: “We will not remain indifferent to those who exploit resources under illegal foreign occupation.

“Argentina’s position is clear. Today, I have come to tell you that Argentina is not going to sit around waiting for the UN and the international community to live up to their own mandate.”

But responding to his speech, the British UN delegation said: “The United Kingdom has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.”

It added: “The United Kingdom is steadfast in its support for the Falkland Islanders’ right of self-determination… The Falkland Islanders have as much right to determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development as any other peoples.”